• They have so much hair that it gets shocked but it cannot get to the bird in enough time. It just goes away.

Vivian Clark, grade 2, Glen Acres

• They have special feet that contain fabric to protect the feet.

Alexis Torres Morales, grade 2, Glen Acres

• Maybe they have special powers.

Parker Morehouse, grade 2, Glen Acres

• They don’t get shocked, because they know they will die, and they don’t want to die.

Leonel Garcia, grade 2, Glen Acres

• Because they have a special padding on their feet that keeps them safe.

Junior Miranda, grade 2, Glen Acres

• Because they only touch the wires.

Nova Tuttle, grade 5, Burnett Creek

• Birds don’t have currents, so that means that electricity can’t travel through their bodies.

Anna Henderson, grade 5, Burnett Creek

• Because their feet are like rubber.

Itzel Bugarin, grade 5, Burnett Creek

• Their talons or feet are perched in a certain position.

Crystal Dobrowski, grade 5, Burnett Creek

• Because of special coating on their feet.

Isaac Ringstrom, grade 5, Burnett Creek

• I think they have a special type of feet.

Asra Foley, grade 2, James Cole

• I think birds don’t get shocked because they might be evil.

Drake Miller, grade 2, James Cole

• Because, they are magic.

Madison Summerfield, grade 2, James Cole

• There is a black covering over the wire so the bird will not get shocked.

Chet Adams, grade 3, Edgelea

• Because birds are light weight.

Jackson Jacoby, grade 3, Edgelea

• Because they are soft.

Nancy Macias, grade 3, Edgelea

• The birds’ feet are so hard that they don't absorb the electricity to get shocked.

Ryley Mitton, grade 3, Edgelea

• Because they only stand on one wire. They would get shocked if they stood on two wires.

Jordan Roberts, grade 3, Edgelea

• Because the things that make it work are on the inside not the outside.

Mariana Villagrana, grade 3, Edgelea

• The electricity can’t go through the birds, because they’re leading to nothing.

Ruby Kollman, grade 4, New Community School

• Because their feet and nails are metal.

Alexandra Props, grade 4, New Community School

• Their feet may have stone on the bottom which may not cause a shock.

Chloe Wise, grade 4, New Community School

• I think it’s because of their beak.

Nia Westfall, grade 4, New Community School

• Birds’ legs are made to touch wires.

Gavin Douglas, grade 4, New Community School

• Their claws aren’t affected by the electricity because their cells don’t react. And if they touch each other, they will die because their powers combine, and it kills them.

Lawrence Southern IV, 2/3 multiage, Battle Ground

• They have talons that resist electricity from all wires.

Simon Williams, 2/3 multiage, Battle Ground

• I think birds’ feet are shockproof, and that’s why they don’t get shocked.

Cal Gick, 2/3 multiage, Battle Ground

• Because they know which wires are shocking wires and which ones are not. When they are babies they just know which wires to sit on and which ones to avoid.

Adrianne Tolen, 2/3 multiage, Battle Ground

There’s only one rule: Know Mr. Ruhl’s answer:

Power lines are made of metal because it’s easiest for electricity to flow through metal. If a bird sits on a power line, it’s easier for the electricity to stay on its power line path than it is to detour through the bird. On the other hand, if a bird had one foot on one wire and the other foot on a second wire, then the bird would create a new path for the electricity (from one wire to the other through the bird’s body!) and that bird would be shocked! Fortunately for the birds, power line wires are far enough apart that most birds are too small to have one foot on one wire and the other foot on another wire.

Joe Ruhl has shared the joys of science with young people for 35 years. He teaches biology, honors biology, genetics, and science research at Jefferson High School.

IN TWO WEEKS

If you had to guess...Why does being tickled make us laugh? (Due Tuesday, May 13). Email responses to kids@jconline.com. Include student’s full name, gender, grade and school, or mail to Jennifer Christos, 217 N. Sixth St., Lafayette, IN 47901.

DON’T PANIC: This isn’t your average quiz. It’s a creative writing exercise that encourages guessing. There are no rules except one — Know Mr. Ruhl’s answer each week. Read it, discuss it, remember it. But first try to come up with your own explanation. We’re looking for answers that are original and sincere.